Textile slasher



Dec. 15, 1953 J. 5. CAMPBELL 2,662,264

TEXTILE SLASHER Filed 001;. 3, 1951 WARP YARNS FROM CREEL, SIZEING AND DRYING UNIT LINE STARTER MOTOR MAGNETIC CLUTCH RECTI lawezzi oa' 3/ Jazuesb'aanpbell,

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AMMETER Q 635 Patented Dec. 15, 1953 TEXTILE SLASHER James S. Campbell, Manchester, N. 11., assignor to Verney Corporation, Manchester, N. H., a corporation of New Hampshire Application October 3, 1951, Serial No. 249,527

1 Claim. 1

This invention pertains to textile yarn preparation and specifically to textile apparatus of the class of slashers particularly including by that term textile warp yarn preparing and beaming machines comprising warpers, Slashers, slasher- Warpers and slasher-driers. It aims to provide an improved slasher especially with reference to simplifying the same with respect to production thereon of warp beams loaded with evenly tensioned yarns.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Serial No. 186,055, filed September 21, 1950, now abandoned.

In the illustrative embodiment of my slasher invention:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly schematic, of the beam end and adjacent portion of the slasher; and

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the beam drive control of Fig. 1 schematically diagrammed below.

Slashers as typified in Figs. 1 and 2 comprise warp yarn advancing and beaming means mounted on a machine frame indicated at 3. a The multiplicity of warp yarns or warp ends Y of which there generally are hundreds or even several thousand making up a warp set are caused to travel to and are wound upon the warp beam W for installation in a weaving loom. The machine frame 3 is of a length to incorporate at the starting end, to the left of the present views, the textile yarn supplies supported in position to be drawn upon. lhe supplies may be individual packages or masses of the individual yarns rotatively supported in a creel on or operatively associated with the frame or they may be groups of yarns unitarily mounted for advance to the common warp beam W. The term creel is herein used to include any of the usual means for supporting the multiple supply of warp yarn ends. In the course of travel to the loom beam W the yarns Y may be processed in the slasher, generally by the application of sizing, or otherwise fluid treated, by passage through one or more fluid vats. In such case the yarns thereafter pass through a drying stage, in older slashers passing for that purpose around one or more heated drums and in more modern machines being subjected to an air or other drier incorporated in the slasher. In other instances, more especially non-treating warpers, the yarns may be conducted more or less directly from the creel to the warp beam. Slashers with which the present invention is concerned include any such machines, as indicated by the wording warp yarns from creel, sizing and drying unit on Fig. 2, the numeral 3 herein indicating the entire machine frame of which but an intermediate and forward portion is shown.

The loom beam W is rotatively mounted on a warp-beam shaft 4 in bearings 5 on the frame 3, one or both of which are of the slidable or other openable type for installing and dofiing the beam W. The slasher frame 3 as shown supports a guide roll 5 or plurality thereof driven from the beam shaft in the usual manner. Rearwardly of the beam the yarns Y are spaced by passage through an adjustable or other laterally distributing comb I. From the preceding stage in the slasher, particularly if sizing and drier stages are included, the set of warp ends is guided, some over and others under vertically separating splitter guide bars of which two are indicated in Fig. 1 at 8, 8.

The illustrated warp beam will be understood as of an axial extent to accommodate the several thousand ends of yarn, up to the width capacity of the slasher and as required for the particular weaving operation. The individual yarn weights may have a considerable range but in any instance the total take-up of yarn onto the beam W represents a large mass and weight. An average beam for example has a 25-in. diameter head and a width, axially, in the direction across the slasher, of say 70 in. Yarns run on the slasher may be from say number 12s to 28s, with the ends per beam ranging from 3000 to 7000.

For such work the friction-disc drive for many years associated with slashing has proven inadequate, causing irregular tensicning of the yarns going to and upon the beam. Accordingly my invention discards such conventional means and reorganizes the slasher head-end and take up in the novel manner as herein disclosed.

Referring to the drawings, I mount on or adjacent the slasher frame 3 a constant-speed electric motor I 5 having a power output shaft l2 and having operatively interposed between the motor and the output shaft I2 electromagnetic i clutch means H. Such power-transmitting electromagnetic clutch acting between the motor I0 and the output shaft 12 may be for example of the eddy current type and may have driving and driven elements magnetically coupled for transmitting to the output shaft 12 driving torque inversely proportionate to slippage or relative rotation provided for by the electromagnetic means, as between the motor rotor and the clutch-controlled output shaft 12. As schematically illustrated the motor, the magnetic clutch and the output shaft are commonly housed in the manner of a magnetic clutch motor outputting to the controlled shaft I2. The motor as shown is of a constant-speed threephase A. C. type receiving current from supply lines I3. For the purpose I have employed a motor rated at 7 h. p. and having a speed of 1800 R. P. M. The output at the shaft I2 is converted to the range or rate as appropriate for the particular slasher. In the illustrated example there is provided on the slasher frame a jack shaft I4 receiving drive from the shaft I2 through a drive connection I5 illustrated as of the v-belt type, preferably multiple, herein comprising four belts operating upon correspondingly formed shives on the output shaft I2 and the jack shaft I4, the shives being of the relative size, for example 4 in. pitch diameter at the shaft I2 and 16 in. pitch diameter at the-jack shaft I4, to afiord the corresponding reduction. On the jack shaft I4 and on the adjacent end of the warp beam shaft 4 are fixed relatively smalland relatively large sprockets I6 and I1 respectively, these being interconnected by a positive chain drive I8, for example a No. 80 chain drive in. wide and having a l in. pitch. The reduction via this chain and sprocket means again is of the order to afford the desired range of speed for the warp beam W. By way of example the jack shaft sprocket I6 may have nine teeth and the larger sprocket II on the warp beam shaft 4 may have thirty-six teeth, giving a l:4 reduction.

In the improved slasher of the invention a constant DC. current is supplied to the electromagnetic clutch II throughout the entire beaming operation, that is, during normal relatively high speed driven rotation of-thebeam W. As will be described such provision may be made for automatically cutting in a determined additional resistance at jogging speeds and stops of the beam, the same being automatically cut out under normal running. Such constant uniform energizing force for the clutch II is predetermined for the particular beaming job and is so selected by manipulation of the control as to make available through the magnetic clutch means II the maximum applied torque-for the output shaft I2 required at any stage of the particular beaming operation on the slasher to produce and maintain that tension for the warp yarns Y as appropriate for yielding the desired hardness or tautness of the warp yarns upon the beam. As here illustrated in Fig. 2-two lines of the three-phase power supply line I3 are tapped to a rectifier 2B of preferred type, indicated as an electronic rectifier. The resultant substantially constant D. C. current is supplied to a D. C. circuit 2I. Serially connected in the D. C. circuit 2| is a first adjustable rheostat 23, a second adjustable rheostat 24 and a D. C. ammeter 25. The D. C. circuit 2| further includes the electromagnetic clutch II. A line starter and stop switch is indicated at 26 in Fig. 2 which may be conveniently located on the slasher frame 3, herein at the head end adjacent the warp beam 4 as seen at the upper right in Fig. 1. Likewise the control and setting instruments 23, 24, 25 may be adjacently installed on the slasher frame in a box or panel, also shown at the upper right in Fig. 1.

Again noting the schematic control portion at the lower part of Fig. 2, an automatic resistance cut-out switch 21 is connected in a shunt circuit fla -whereby the adjustable resistance furnished by the second rheostat 24 may instantly be shunted out on shifting up to normal high speed running. As illustrated the high speed resistance cut-out contact 21 has an operating finger 28 engageable by a trip 29 disposed on any convenient part of the slasher which is moved under control of the operator in making the shift as between starting, stalling or jogging speeds and the relatively high speed for normal running. As shown such automatic trip 29 is on a lever 30 which on the older slashers equipped with a gear shift may be the shipper lever on the shipp'er shaft 3| for shifting as between low and high drive speeds. In other or more recent slashers wherein the change as between starting and running speeds is effected electrically with respect to the motor the lever 30 may be such motor control shift lever in which case it may be located on or adjacent the control box or panel of Fig. l. f

As explained the adjustable rheostat 23 which at all times remains active in the D. C. control circuit 2| is set to afford that strength of magnetic coupling at the electromagnetic clutch II which will result in application of maximum torque for the output shaft I2 determined as requisite for any stage of normal running dur ing the entire beaming operation. Once set for the particular beaming job as experimentally determined for the given multiplicity, size, weight and character of the warp yarns, this determined rheostat setting is not disturbed. Consequently there is furnished upon the electromagnetic clutch I I a constant direct current. Hence load variations at the beam W, includ ing any of the numerous factors tending to produce tautening or loosening of the yarns Y, automatically produce a proportionate clutch slippage variation in the direction to keep constant the tension of the warp yarns Y going to and upon the beam W. With increased load or pull at the beam W the slippage at the clutch means II automatically increases just suificiently' to maintain the selected yarn tension. Conversely with operational changes tending to decrease the yarn tension, such as over-run in approach of the yarns to the head end of the slasher or thereat to the beam W, or slacking by reason of atmospheric or other causes changing the moisture content of the yarns or other modification thereof, the effective magnetic coupling or holding action available under the constant current to the clutch II increases and again immediately restores and maintains the selected tension for the Warp yarns Y.

In actual practice it has been found that by carrying about 2.4 amp. of direct current at a potential of 19 v. on the clutch throughout the beaming operation, variation in yarn tension over the entire beam range was recorded on a yarn tension-meter as only 5 grams. By adjusting the manual rheostat 23 any desired ten sion may be obtained. Thus uniform control of the warp yarn tension in slasher operation of a highly satisfactory order is obtained comparable in actual practice to that for example of the relatively complex and expensive multimotor and elaborate electronic timing and other arrangements proposed for slasher operations of the character here concerned. Based on main taining the clutch current at substantially a constant value while the yarn beam increases in di ameter with variation in torque and linear travel rate automatically and proportionately compensated for by a corresponding variation in slip page at the clutch, a substantially uniform tension on the warp yarns throughout the beaming operation on the slasher has been obtained in a manner exceeding slasher performance expectations.

Under the invention, given a substantially steady current available for the supply mains 13, the control circuit 2| effects a substantially con stant uniform energizing force for the electromagnetic clutch means I I. The warp beam W has applied thereto a given torque at a given rate for a given load condition, with the net eiiect expressed by the desired tension in th warp yarn Y. No other compensation for the factor of ever-enlarging loom beam is required in actual experience. With the beam shaft '4 geared directly through appropriate reduction to the slasher motor output shaft l2 subject to the electromagnetic clutch means H the described controlled slippage thereat had from the maintained constant current through the rheostat and ammeter in series there is a substantially constant tensidn, at the selected value, on the Warp yarns going onto the enlarging beam W. The electromagnetic clutch slippage in response to load variation automatically changes and with it the applied or efiective torque to the extent and in the direction to maintain the substantially constant or uniform tensioning of the beam-received warp yarns.

Otherwise stated, tension changes in the taking-up of the Warp yarns Y onto the beam W, whether tending to tauten or to slack the yarns, are automatically reflected in and compensated by change in the degree r amount of clutch slip, a maximum magnetic coupling being available under the selected constant current setting of the control circuit to take care of any ordinary range of change in tension-affecting factors.

Since the D. C. current supply to the clutch is held constant under normal operation, load changes and variations in required torque values there effect an automatic variation in the effective clutching action. Thus for example a progressive change or variation in the speed of the beam W, as may be desirable for instance to prevent distortion of the warp yarns, is thus automatically smoothly provided by the controlled constant-current-supplied electromagnetic clutch means of the slasher of the present invention. Conversely, where an optimum and uniform tension is reflected by a constant linear velocity for the advancing warp yarns, the same is accomplished with equal facility in my novel slashing system, through the automatic self-adjustment of the clutch slippage under the constant current supplied to the clutch.

For convenience and as experience may dictate a table of current values or ammeter readings appropriate to the optimum tensions for various warp yarns may be installed on the slasher, as at the control box, to facilitate prompt and accurate setting of rheostat 23 to secure the desired effective drive torque for a given slashing job. It should be noted also in this connection that ammeter 25 provides a convenient reference or indicating means by which the operator may check or determine the tension setting obtaining at any instant, or throughout the beaming operation on the slasher.

From the foregoing description and accompanying drawing it will be clear that the present invention provides a strikingly simple and highly efficient constant tension slasher capable of processing and beaming textile warp yarns in sets ranging in the thousands of ends per beam.

My slasher invention is not limited to the particular embodiments thereof illustrated and described herein, and I set forth its scope in my following claim:

In a slasher for textile warp yarns having a frame, a warp beam shaft at the head end thereof, and frame carried guide means including splitter bars, a distributing comb and one or more guide rolls for directing a multiplicity of warp yarn ends therealong to the beam, the combination with said beam of a constant speed electric drive motor, a power output shaft, electro-magnetic clutch means operatively interposed between the motor and output shaft, a source of uniform direct current for energizing the clutch, a jack shaft on the frame, reducing drives between the output and jack shafts and between the jack and beam shafts, and means controlling and compensating slippage at the clutch for substantially constant tension on the on-winding yarn ends including two rheostats connected in series with said clutch and together determining the current value for stalling and jogging operation of the slasher, a shunt circuit and switch therein for cutting out one rheostat thereby to supply through the other the selected constant current value for normal running of the slasher, a shift lever on the slasher frame for shifting as between low stalling and jogging speed and normal running speed, and means moving with the shift lever for closing and opening said shunt circuit switch on shifting to and from operating speed.

JAMES S. CAMPBELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,007,828 Johnson July 9, 1935 2,237,112 Parvin Apr. 1, 1941 2,242,435 Parvin May 20, 1941 2,317,290 McIlvried Apr. 20, 1943 2,332,397 Parvin Oct. 19, 1943 2,335,880 Ouzts Dec. 7, 1943 2,354,952 Hornbostel Aug. 1, 1944 2,469,706 Winther May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 189,905 Great Britain Dec. 14, 1922 418,215 Great Britain Oct. 12, 1934 544,925 Great Britain May 4, 1942 429,439 Germany May 26, 1926 

